Going to Extremes

Forget team spirit. Participation in group sports is on the
decline as extreme sports gain momentum among individual
thrill-seekers. According to American Sports Data, snowboarding
skyrocketed to 7 million participants last year, expanding by 51
percent between 1999 and 2000. Skateboarding increased by 49
percent to 12 million enthusiasts, far outpacing tackle football,
which grew by only 15 percent to 6 million players in 2000. Gen Y
males are driving much of the growth in extreme sports, which
appeal to individualists with a need for speed, according to the
report. In addition, a kinder, gentler attitude toward sports is
shrinking the ranks of pistol packers who engage in traditional
â€œbloodâ€? sports, including clay pigeon shooting (down 24
percent), target shooting (down 14 percent), and bow hunting (down
11 percent).